She made her debut with Bollywood Calling and then went on to star in off-beat movies such as Mumbai Matinee, Jogger's Park and Morning Raga. Now Perizaad Zorabian is all set to star in her first commercial pot-boiler Ek Ajnabee. In an exclusive conversation with IndiaFM, she speak about striking a balance between commercial and parallel.

You are known for your off-beat films and this is your first commercial pot-boiler. What made you sign this film?
Producer Bunty Walia is a friend of mine. One day he called me up and told me about this film. I asked for a script from director Apoorva Lakhia and I really liked it. Never in my life did I expect that I would get a lead role with Amitabh Bachchan and my character was well shaded as well. It was clear in my head that if I ever do a commercial film it should appeal to me. This movie is something I believe in.

What is the film about?
The film has got emotions and action and is well layered. You cannot slot it in any particular genre. It explores different kinds of relationships.

Tell us about your character.
The role I play, Nikasha is my and Apoorva's idea of a perfect woman. She is really cool, educated, smart, modern, compassionate, loving and is a kind of person who would do anything for the person she loves. But if you do her any wrong then she is the planet's worst person to deal with. She knows how to balance her priorities - her husband and child as well as her professional life.

You are playing a mother. Don't you think this is too early in your career?
It's not just a mother. It's more like a mother-daughter relationship role. This role is like what relationship daughters share with their mother. She is a young mother who bonds with her daughter.

How was it like working with Amitabh Bachchan?
I was obviously shocked and intimidated. We had a meeting before the shoot, which was like an ice-breaker. So I got over my initial nerves. But it still requires a fair amount of skill to forget that you are opposite the legend. He jokes and is very charming and makes you very comfortable. He eases the tension and tries to get into the character while doing a scene.

What kind of homework did you do for this film?
I worked extra hard for this film and on the graph and the nuances of the character. I really wanted to contribute and give justice to Nikasha. Apart from the mother-daughter relationship there is the relationship with her husband and Mr. Bachchan as well.

How is Arjun Rampal as a co-star?
I think he rocks in Ek Ajnabee. His look is fantastic. He's the next item boy. He is in the best shape ever. He's very laid back and cool and I think the girls are going to love him.

And baby Rucha
Rucha is the star of the film. You know when a child artist works its very hard, but here things came to her effortlessly. We had a great working equation. She is very focused for an 8 year old and not a tantrum thrower at all.

What was your experience with director Apoorva Lakhia?
Apoorva is a task-master but in a very good way. He is a no non-sense person and he expects a particular job to be done properly. He will listen to what you have to say and finally will decide on whether it works for the film. He and Bunty (Walia) are really fun to be with. However Apoorva was very particular with my look in the film.

Any fun moment that you would like to recall on the set?
Everyday on the set was like a party and I'm not saying this to sound politically correct. Mr. Bachchan was like someone you would always look up to, so when Apoorva and Bunty ganged up against me, I would go to him like a little girl and complain to him about them. That was the fun element.

There are quite a few more thrillers coming up. What do you think is different about the film?
I wouldn't put this film into the thriller category. It is not a thriller not a family drama as well. It has layers of everything. It explores different relationships. It explores friendship, marriage, relationship between a child and her bodyguard, etc. and off course the background is action and revenge.

Your other forthcoming films
I have an exciting line up of films. I have a British film with Malcolm McDowell called 'Exits'. Then there is Bappoditya Bandopandhyay's Devaki which is chosen for 9 international film festivals and then Shadaab Khan's next with Kay Kay Menon. I have just signed Nikhil Advani's Salaam-E-Ishq which is my second commercial film. I hope to balance the commercial and the off-beat and have an entire range of films.

Finally, are you happy with the way your career has shaped up?
I don't think anyone is ever happy with their career and I'm the greediest person on the face of the earth, so I always see the glass as half full. But I think I have come further than I ever dreamt off and it's just getting better and better.